Overview
The SIT Argentina: People, Environment, and Climate Change in Patagonia and Antarctica program offers the opportunity to experience the unique environments and biodiversity of Southern Patagonia and Antarctica and examine the conservation challenges posed by the impacts of climate change and human behavior. From your home base in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, you’ll discover the economic and environmental importance of this region.
Academics
On this program, you will learn how to apply scientific research tools and methods as you examine how climate change affects the region’s marine biodiversity. You will enroll in various courses related to the following topics, Socio-Ecological Dynamics and Conservation in Southern Patagonia and Antarctica, Climate Change and Marine Biology in Southern Patagonia and Antarctica, Spanish for the Natural Sciences (all levels), Environmental Research Methods and Ethics, and Independent Study Project (ISP).
You will conduct a month-long ISP to complement your formal coursework. You can pursue original research on a topic of interest that offers you a unique, interactive research opportunity in your field of interest.
Program Features
You will live with a local family for approximately eight weeks over the course of the semester and experience the vibrancy of the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego. Here, you will develop your Spanish skills through daily practice and gain valuable exposure to Argentine traditions and cultures.
As part of the program coursework, you get to see southern Patagonia’s biodiversity, ecology, and conservation issues firsthand through site visits to the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego National Park, and northern Tierra del Fuego, including Chile. With the knowledge and content learned during the program, you will explore the last pristine region of the world on a 10-day expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula with guided landings and zodiac cruises.
Eligibility
Review eligibility to ensure that you meet all Columbia requirements to study abroad.
Review the external program webpage to understand any additional program prerequisites. For instance, you will need to have completed at least two (2) recent semesters of college-level Spanish (or the equivalent), and previous college-level coursework or background in environmental studies, ecology, biology, or related fields.
Application Instructions
To apply, you must complete the two steps below. Deadlines vary, and some applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Therefore, you should complete the steps below simultaneously:
- To apply for Columbia clearance (approval) to study abroad, click on "Start Your Application" on this webpage. Clearance applications are approved on a rolling basis until the application deadline listed on this webpage.
- To apply for program admission, complete an external application directly on the program webpage. Note that this deadline may be in advance of the Columbia clearance deadline.
- This is a popular program and tends to fill prior to the application deadline. You are encouraged to start an application on the program's website as soon as you can and complete it prior to the deadline.